3 ms·

Google gets start of Winter wrong by 3 weeks

1 points by cubicle67 17y ago

Today, on http://www.google.com.au/ the normal Google logo is replaced by a wintery looking one, with mouseover that reads 'first day of winter'. Thing is, in Australia Winter starts June 1st Yes, not exactly HN material but amusing to see even places like Google get this wrong

nreece 17y ago
It's probably due to the start of the winter solstice — the shortest day in the southern hemisphere and the longest in the northern half of the world (where thousands will be celebrating the summer solstice): http://www.theage.com.au/national/pagans-party-as-winter-solstice-brings-hope-20090620-crzk.html http://www.theage.com.au/national/pagans-party-as-winter-sol...
- cubicle67 17y ago
  Yes, it's Winter solstice; no argument there. It's not, as Google are suggesting, the first day of Winter. Big difference. It looks like the assumption is that other places start their seasons the same date as the US does.
  - nreece 17y ago
    In many countries in the Southern Hemisphere, including Australia, New Zealand and South Africa the winter solstice starts on the 1st of June and the official day of winter starts on June 21. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter
    - cubicle67 17y ago
      Here's the quote now (same wikipedia page). Seems someone's edited it since your quote. In many countries in the Southern Hemisphere, including Australia [3][4], New Zealand and South Africa, winter begins on 1 June and ends on 31 August. [Edit: not sure what the disagreement is here, or why we're using wikipedia as an authority on when various countries mark seasons]
    - RiderOfGiraffes 17y ago
      That's not a quotation, and it's inaccurate. The Winter Solstice doesn't "start on the 1st of June". The Winter Solstice is a specific astonomical point in time. Wikipedia says: In many countries in the Southern Hemisphere, including Australia [3][4], New Zealand and South Africa, winter begins on 1 June and ends on 31 August. "Winter" is a political construction and can be declared to start on different dates as appropriate. Please, if you write something that looks like a quotation, make sure it is a quotation.
Raphael 17y ago
Astrophysical winter, not political winter.

1 points by cubicle67 17y ago

nreece 17y ago

It's probably due to the start of the winter solstice — the shortest day in the southern hemisphere and the longest in the northern half of the world (where thousands will be celebrating the summer solstice): http://www.theage.com.au/national/pagans-party-as-winter-solstice-brings-hope-20090620-crzk.html http://www.theage.com.au/national/pagans-party-as-winter-sol...

cubicle67 17y ago
Yes, it's Winter solstice; no argument there. It's not, as Google are suggesting, the first day of Winter. Big difference. It looks like the assumption is that other places start their seasons the same date as the US does.
- nreece 17y ago
  In many countries in the Southern Hemisphere, including Australia, New Zealand and South Africa the winter solstice starts on the 1st of June and the official day of winter starts on June 21. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter
  - cubicle67 17y ago
    Here's the quote now (same wikipedia page). Seems someone's edited it since your quote. In many countries in the Southern Hemisphere, including Australia [3][4], New Zealand and South Africa, winter begins on 1 June and ends on 31 August. [Edit: not sure what the disagreement is here, or why we're using wikipedia as an authority on when various countries mark seasons]
  - RiderOfGiraffes 17y ago
    That's not a quotation, and it's inaccurate. The Winter Solstice doesn't "start on the 1st of June". The Winter Solstice is a specific astonomical point in time. Wikipedia says: In many countries in the Southern Hemisphere, including Australia [3][4], New Zealand and South Africa, winter begins on 1 June and ends on 31 August. "Winter" is a political construction and can be declared to start on different dates as appropriate. Please, if you write something that looks like a quotation, make sure it is a quotation.

Raphael 17y ago

Astrophysical winter, not political winter.